News Archive
20/11/2021
Coronavirus (COVID-19): daily data for Scotland - 20 November 2021
2,756 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 31,575 new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 9.3% of these were positive.19/11/2021
Novavax Covid Vaccine Is Nearing Approval - But What Impact Will It Have?
The pandemic has been rumbling on for two years and is probably going to rumble on for years to come. And despite recent excitement about new drugs to treat COVID, it's still vaccines that will underpin each country's route out of the pandemic.
19/11/2021
Black Friday Scams - Eight Ways To Avoid Being Conned By Dodgy Online Retailers Into Buying Fake And Dangerous Goods
Excitable Black Friday (26 November 2021) bargain hunters could be exposed to online scams in their quest to grab a deal warns Feel Good Contacts and the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG). Operating behind sophisticated looking sites, and social media, criminals use fake trademarks, brands, emblems, and bogus certification labels to entice customers into thinking they are buying genuine, safe products at prices that are too good to be true.
19/11/2021
Most Common Passwords Of 2021: Here's What To Do If Yours Makes The List
If you use "123456", "password" or "qwerty" as a password, you're probably aware that you're leaving yourself vulnerable to hackers. But you're also not alone - these are three of the top ten most common passwords around the world, according to a new report.
19/11/2021
Public Sector Finances, UK: October 2021
Public sector net borrowing (excluding public sector banks, PSNB ex) was estimated to have been £18.8 billion in October 2021; this was the second-highest October borrowing since monthly records began in 1993, £0.2 billion less than in October 2020. PSNB ex was estimated to have been £127.3 billion in the financial year-to-October 2021; this was the second-highest financial year-to-October borrowing since monthly records began in 1993, £103.4 billion less than in the same period last year.
19/11/2021
Economic Activity And Social Change In The UK, Real-time Indicators: 18 November 2021
Shelf availability of items between 12 and 15 November 2021 was lowest for "crisps (multipack)", with 29% of this item's availability marked as "none" or "low"; shelf availability was highest for the "beer" category, as 71% of this item was recorded as having "high" availability (Kantar Public). Section 3.19/11/2021
Business Insights And Impact On The UK Economy
The percentage of currently trading businesses has fallen slightly from 93% in late October 2021, to 91% in early November 2021; this is the first time the figure had fallen since January 2021 and is primarily led by the transportation and storage industry. Over a quarter (28%) of businesses currently trading reported a decrease in turnover compared with normal expectations for this time of year; this is up from 24% in late September 2021, and is the highest percentage since early August 2021.19/11/2021
Coronavirus (covid-19): Daily Data For Scotland - 19 November 2021
3,090 new cases of COVID-19 reported. 35,108* new tests for COVID-19 that reported results 9.3% of these were positive.
19/11/2021
Retail Sales, Great Britain: October 2021
Retail sales volumes rose by 0.8% in October 2021, from a revised unchanged (0.0%) position between August and September (previous estimate was a 0.2% fall); volumes were 5.8% higher than their pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic February 2020 levels. Non-food stores was the only main retail sector that saw a rise in sales volumes, increasing by 4.2% in October 2021, because of growth in other non-food stores (7.2%), such as second-hand stores, toy stores and sports equipment stores, and clothing stores (6.2%).19/11/2021
From Now To Net Zero: A Practical Guide For SMEs' Report
Climate change poses a risk to every aspect of our lives and reducing carbon emissions to achieve Net Zero is an essential step. The journey to Net Zero is a long one and the transition of our economy to a sustainable footing will be the most momentous change in business and industry of our generation.
19/11/2021
Gas Prices
Since the start of 2021, the seven-day rolling average SAP has been steadily increasing. The price has more than tripled, with an increase of 302% since 1 January 2021.
19/11/2021
UKHSA Updates Clinical Guidance On Vaccinations For 12 To 17 Year Olds
Following a review of evidence by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), advice on second doses for young people aged 16 to 17 was issued earlier this week. For those aged 16 to 17 who have had coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, the second vaccine dose should be given 12 weeks or more following the first vaccine dose, or 12 weeks following a positive COVID-19 test result - whichever is later.
19/11/2021
Any Use Of Hand-held Mobile Phone While Driving To Become Illegal
Prosecution regulations tightened on the use of hand-held mobile phones at the wheel. government strengthening existing laws making it illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving under virtually any circumstance follows public consultation which found that 81% of people supported such a move[b/] [b]highway code will change making it clear that hand-held phone use at traffic lights or in traffic jams is illegal Police will soon be able to more easily prosecute drivers using a hand-held mobile phone at the wheel after the government strengthens existing laws to further improve road safety.
18/11/2021
Rhoda Grant MSP supports Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) petition on Community Participation
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, appeared at the Scottish Parliament's Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee this morning supporting a petition from Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT). Maria Aitken, on behalf of CHAT, had lodged the petition calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to allow an appeal process for Community Participation Requests under the Community Empowerment Act 2015.18/11/2021
Senior Executive To Leave Council After 20 Years' Service
Carron McDiarmid, Executive Chief Officer Communities and Place is retiring from The Highland Council after 35 years of public service and 20 years as a senior officer in the Council. Carron was previously the Council's Head of Policy for many years and led the first phase of Council Redesign.
18/11/2021
Air Traffic Control plans for centralisation still under scrutiny
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant gave a compelling statement against HIAL's ATMS centralisation plans to the Scottish Parliament Petition Committee on Wednesday morning. Mrs Grant was speaking in support of a cross-community petition which is asking Scottish Government to halt the controversial plans to centralise Highlands and Islands Air Traffic Control in Inverness, leaving local airports to be monitored remotely.18/11/2021
PPE Procurement In The Early Pandemic
Information about the government's procurement exercise to secure critical personal protective equipment (PPE) during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, the government is publishing further information about its exceptional procurement exercise to secure critical personal protective equipment (PPE) during the early months of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.18/11/2021
World Record RAF Flight Powered By Synthetic Fuel
The RAF and Zero Petroleum have won a Guinness World Record for the world's first successful flight using only synthetic fuel. In a world-first, an Ikarus C42 microlight aircraft flown by Group Captain Peter Hackett, completed a short flight powered by synthetic gasoline at Cotswold Airport earlier this month.
18/11/2021
Literacy skills help from HLH during Book Week Scotland
For many people, literacy is taken for granted - but for some across Highland, reading can be a struggle. High Life Highland is highlighting that help is available, during this year's Book Week Scotland, for those who want to improve their literacy skills.18/11/2021
